Allen left the large box in his treasure room and went to prepare breakfast, nothing too ostentatious but ensuring it was delicious. Later, Allen began cleaning the living room; it seemed as though it had been assaulted by a pair of Tasmanian demons the day before.
"Hahaha," Allen laughed, recalling everything that had happened.
Allen was already thinking about what to do next. His first thought was to have MJ live with him. She was already eighteen years old and free to live wherever she pleased. Additionally, after what she had told him, he couldn't let her return so easily.
Among the things they talked about at the park yesterday, he learned that she had been working part-time as a waitress for a while and had saved enough to rent a small apartment.
While Allen could allow her to live here for free, he knew that MJ's pride wouldn't let him do that. So, he thought of renting her a room at an extremely low price.
Regarding the other problems that come with living with her, they didn't matter; they weren't essential for Allen. He was already willing to go through hell to protect her. He wasn't going to back down, no matter how difficult it might be.
Allen remembered an even more important issue, Gwen. Allen sent a message to the girl in question; he needed to resolve this problem, but first, he needed to know how deep Gwen's feelings were.
Although he liked her, and there was mutual sentiment, had it reached the point of being loved? Was it just a bit of attraction? Allen didn't want to hurt Gwen.
...
At Gwen's house, she was having breakfast with her father when a message came to her phone.
"Is it from Allen?" the man asked Gwen. This rough-looking man was Gwen's father and the police captain, George Stacy.
"How do you know?" asked the confused girl.
The man sighed. "It's unpleasant to accept that my daughter only lights up like that when that boy calls her."
"What nonsense!" Gwen stood up and quickly left the place with a red face.
"They grow up so fast," the man murmured in a sigh of resignation. "I hope I haven't made a mistake about you, Allen."
"Come on, George, our daughter is old enough to make her decisions," a middle-aged blonde woman laughed as she came in from the kitchen. She is Helen Stacy, Gwen's mother. "We're not young anymore, and we must accept that one day our daughter must make her life."
"Helen... it's not that I'm opposed... I just wish the man she chooses is capable of making her happy."
"Hehe, such a loving father," the woman laughed while straightening George's tie.
...
[Host, it's not really a problem. If she doesn't love you enough, you just have to make her fall more in love with you.]
'I'm indeed a bastard, but you're right,' Allen held his head while thinking about how to address the issue.
[Host, I think it's time for a tutorial, for both of us. You are very weak, and with the problems you get into, I'm afraid we'll be killed.]
"That's a harsh reality, hahaha," Allen laughed while rearranging a couple of pieces of furniture.
After finishing, Allen slumped into an armchair. "What do I have to do?"
A magical door appeared in front of Allen, leaving him stunned. Allen knew he hadn't seen anything of his system yet. He knew his life would no longer be normal, but even so, seeing a magical door appear out of nowhere left him in shock.
Allen took a deep breath and steeled himself to enter through that door. Allen closed his eyes, blinded by the light. When he realized it, he found himself in the middle of a street at night with rain falling. Allen sought refuge beneath an overhang.
There were no people nearby, but Allen felt he wasn't in a very friendly neighborhood, given the graffiti and distant sirens.
"Where am I?"
[Welcome to Gotham City]
"Wait! You're just leaving me in this place so easily?! Isn't there an introduction or something?"
[Of course, but I'll introduce all the information directly into your head to avoid lengthy explanations.]
Allen felt a wave of knowledge about the system and its functioning.
The views and spectators give Allen credits that can be used in the store, but they can also be exchanged for real money. These credits aren't a symbolic currency as in other systems; they crystallize from people's time. Allen is a content creator and gives people entertainment; in return, they pay with their "time" quite literally, and those are the credits.
Golden tickets come from "emotions"; when Allen does or achieves something that stirs emotions in the audience, like joy, amazement, fun, etc., he earns golden tickets. The tickets are in exchange for providing stimuli to his spectators. It could be said that the golden tickets are the crystallization of emotions.
Finally, the fragments of destiny, these latter ones are the most indispensable element for Allen because they are capable of producing miracles and altering reality.
To explain these last elements, we must talk about the system. According to the system itself, it is different from the majority.
Systems come with a defined specialty and help their host accomplish everything according to their programming. "The Absolute God System" will aim to make its host the absolute god. "The Alchemy King System" will make its host the king of alchemy, etc. It's easy to understand.
But this Absolute Content Creator System is evolutionary and reprogrammable. This means it can change, add, or improve its secondary functions outside its primary function of being a content creation system, but for that, it needs resources, and those are the fragments of destiny.
For example, if a fragment of destiny is used in the system store, the stock will improve in its content, quantity, and quality.
It also works the other way around.
Previously, the system offered to remove the gacha function from the golden tickets. This is equivalent to breaking down a building or a workstation in a video game and recovering the resources used in its construction.
Unlike predefined systems, Allen's system needs fragments of destiny to evolve and reprogram functions, and it's Allen who must obtain them.
If Allen had decided to break the function of the golden tickets and gacha, he would have obtained ten fragments of destiny instantly.
In general, these fragments are only produced when there is a significant alteration of destiny, existence, or the world itself, and if Allen is the cause or is near the event, the system can crystallize one or more fragments.
It's easier to see it in action...
...
Allen opened the menu interface and saw three program icons on the screen. If Allen held down an icon, more options appeared:
– Gacha and Golden Tickets (Upgrade) (uninstall)
– Store and Credits (Upgrade) (uninstall)
– Absolute Content Creator System (Upgrade) (Non-removable)
"Why can I uninstall the store? Isn't it something essential?"
[The store is an extra program that can be removed if you don't like it, but I recommend creating a different store before creating content, or the views and spectators won't generate earnings for you.]
"I see, eliminating something is also harmful."
It's like removing the camera app from your phone; it's not that it'll stop working, but it would render the function of your phone useless.
[You can also increase its capacity and improve it; that will increase the quality and quantity of objects in the store, but only if you have enough fragments of destiny.]
"Only the system itself is permanent."
[That's right, I'm like the operating system, and the other functions are just programs.]
"I understand, don't worry. Damaging the system is damaging myself. Well, take me where I can start."
Allen finally understood why such a miraculous existence as the system was willing to link its life and death with him. That's because the system is co-dependent on its host; it grows and evolves with him.
[Before, I recommend that you strengthen yourself...]
"That's true," Allen was somewhat overwhelmed by so much information that he forgot he was in Gotham, the most dangerous city in DC. Although he didn't know which version of Earth he was on.
Allen opened the gacha program and saw a roulette. Allen felt disgusted seeing this, but he had previously said he would endure it.
He noticed in a corner that he had ten golden tickets and decided to play. There was a bright button with the word "Start" below, alongside the option to "pull all."
As someone with knowledge of gacha, he knew it was better to pull one at a time, but Allen felt his soul would be contaminated if he stayed too long in this program, so he used the ten golden tickets at the same time.
The wheel spun and spun; then, ten chests popped up on the screen. Seven were gray, two were green, and one was blue.
Allen touched the green chests on the screen, and two green flashes came out of the screen and surrounded him before entering his body.
Allen opened his eyes in surprise when he realized he had obtained two abilities. Then he touched the blue chest, and a small device like a pen appeared in his hand.
Allen ignored the gray chests.
[Host, don't you intend to open the others?]
'No, it's just trash,' Allen said, frowning. He had had enough bad experiences with gacha games to know that the gray chests were only fillers and trash.
[Do you wish to start a live stream or record?]
"No, for now, I just want to practice... System, how can I hide my identity? I don't think I should flaunt myself to the world blatantly like Tony Stark while being so weak."
[In that case, you can use the "Hide Identity" mode.]
Allen searched in the information given to him by the system in his head and saw how it worked. Essentially, the hidden identity mode is akin to Clark Kent's glasses and makes it almost impossible to know that Clark is Superman.
Allen was curious and went to the options interface and activated the hidden identity mode. Allen felt strange, and then he saw his hair return to its natural color, white.
"Is that all?" Allen asked with an expressionless look.
[Yes...]
"System..."
[Host, don't worry; the physical change is secondary. In the worst case, we'll only use a fragment of destiny to alter people's memories if they cause you too many problems.]
"But it only changed my hair..." Allen knew that he could now change the color of his hair from black to white whenever he wanted, and it would have a similar effect to Superman's glasses, but it's so ridiculous.
[It's not just that; I altered all the records on different platforms that have your personal information so that you can't be traced.]
"Still, people like Mary Jane can recognize me, right?"
[Yes, your acquaintances won't be deceived, but remember that you only had a hundred loyal viewers in the streams and as for those who watch your YT channel, they don't know your full name, let alone your face.]
Allen's YT channel gets tens of thousands of views per video, but the content isn't as personal as in a live stream, and all those people neither know his full name nor his face.
No one else besides those hundred would think that this white-haired Allen Walker is the same Allen Walker with glasses like Harry Potter.
Allen sighed and decided to accept it. Allen knew that as long as he didn't get fragments, the system was very simple in its functions.
Allen decided to focus on the current world. The rain had not stopped, giving a strange feeling of tranquility. It's proven that fewer crimes are committed when it rains.
Allen closed his eyes to sense the threads of destiny. He also knew this from the information provided by the system. Several threads of light started to appear around him, going in different directions.
Allen took the brightest one and leaped three meters, stepped on a wall, and propelled himself higher, reaching the building.
[Green Grade Thrust and Suspension: Allows the user to leap short distances in any direction and cushion the fall and impact.]
"It allows me to jump high..." Allen rolled his eyes; as cool as the system wants to make the ability sound, it's just an ability that allows him to jump.
[Yes... well... that sums it up.]
Allen felt that his system's girl sounded depressed for a moment. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Allen started leaping from building to building; the rain had diminished at some point, and chaos was about to cease.
Following one of the brightest threads of destiny, Allen found a scene too familiar. Allen stopped on top of a building and incredulously saw a couple and their son passing through an alley.
...
"Bruce, don't go ahead," a man said calmly as he smiled at his son.
"Yes~"
"Darling, it's late, we should hurry," said the woman nervously. Gotham is a dangerous city, and it was already night; they had gone to see a movie, but the rain prevented them from leaving earlier.
Martha, the woman, regretted not bringing an umbrella with her.
"You're right, darling, let's hurry," the man responded seriously.
...
"Is this for real?" Allen felt a lump in his throat as he watched this from a rooftop.
Bruce Wayne's parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, were brutally assaulted in an alley after leaving a movie at a theater.
A thief attempted to rob them, and in the ensuing struggle, both Thomas and Martha were killed in front of their son, Bruce, an event serving as the main motivation for Bruce to become Batman.
[Host, will you help Bruce Wayne's parents?]
Allen gazed at the sky as the last raindrops fell on his face; he felt the nighttime wind and the chill it brought, inhaling the scent of pollution from such a large city.
It was all real... Allen wasn't so cruel as to let this happen before his eyes if he could prevent it.
[Allen, you know that if you save Bruce Wayne, you'll prevent this world from having a Batman...]
"Huh?" Allen froze upon hearing that.
It's a cruel and sad reality that Bruce's parents must die for the world's greater good. Depending on the universe, it's different, but in many cases, Bruce's existence, no, Batman's existence, has saved the world from destruction.
So many criminals without a Dark Knight to stop them...
So many crises that needed Batman...
So many people Batman saved in his life...
Allen had seen this same scene many times in different DC stories. He knows it's necessary for the birth of Batman.
Doubt entered Allen's light gray eyes. He felt the weight of a huge decision, and the worst part was that it came out of nowhere. He went from a simple tutorial to such a heavy decision.
"Why?" Allen said, feeling awful. It was too much responsibility barely starting.
[I'm sorry, I just focused on finding places with high concentrations of destiny. I'll take you out immediately.]
That would be the same as deciding not to act. Allen is already here, that's undeniable. He must decide, like it or not.
As Allen hesitated, the thief appeared.
"Give me the money quickly!" he yelled, pointing a gun at Thomas Wayne.
Martha grabbed her son and shielded him with her body. "Thomas..." she said worried.
"Quickly! Now!" the man pointed the gun at Thomas and then at Martha, nervous and seemingly hysterical.
Thomas felt the man might shoot at any moment the way he was acting and instinctively tried to protect his loved ones, jumping to grab the thief's gun.
"No, Thomas!" Martha screamed, feeling more frightened than ever in her life.
Allen gritted his teeth but knew what he was going to do. It's for the greater good; no one will say it's the wrong decision. If Allen prevents this, he would be robbing this world of its Batman.
But ...
– "Allen, take care, son..." –
As someone who had also lost his parents, he knew how heartbreaking and traumatic it is.
Allen knows the loneliness of not hearing the voices of your loved ones every day.
Allen Walker can't do that to a child just for the world's sake.
Allen appeared kneeling beside Thomas and the thief instantly, as if he had teleported, without rising, Allen pulled out a black pen-like object and pointed it at the thief, and then a blinding light appeared, freezing everyone but Allen who was looking at the ground.
Allen rose and looked at the silent people, his gaze centered on the thief.
"You'll turn yourself into the police because you feel remorse for all your crimes," Allen said tiredly, and as if hypnotized, the thief walked away.
"Thomas Wayne, hire bodyguards, and don't walk through alleys at night again."
Thomas nodded in response, somewhat dazed. Allen knelt before the child in his mother's arms and placed his hand on the boy's head.
"Bruce... take care of your parents..." The child nodded as Allen weakly smiled. Allen prepared to leave, but two white crystals manifested in front of him; Allen looked at everyone, but it seemed that no one but him could see them.
Allen took the fragments in his hands and kept them. 'This is tough...'
Allen didn't get credits or tickets because he didn't stream this, nor did he record anything, but he didn't care.
Allen picked up the gun left by the thief and crossed the magical door that appeared in front of him.
====
[Green Grade Time Bullet: Allows the user to move faster than sound for one second – one-time usage per day]
[Men in Black's Neuralyzer: Blue Grade Equipment; allows erasing memories and replacing them with others – ten uses]